Supporting Palestinian rights is verboten in the West, the title of a previous article.

It could have been titled Western support for Israel is one-sided. It’s been this way at least since the infamous 1917 Balfour Declaration.

It called for a Jewish nation at the expense of fundamental Palestinian rights, setting the stage for stealing their historic homeland.

Over a century of Western-sponsored endless conflict, occupation, dispossession, and repression, along with social and cultural fragmentation, defined their suffering with no end of it in prospect.

The world community, including the US, other Western countries, Russia, China, most others and the UN, one-sidedly supports Israel at the expense of fundamental Palestinian rights.

They ignore its state terror apartheid rule, its contempt for democratic values and rule of law principles, along with wars at its discretion, letting the Jewish state get away with mass murder and a whole lot more – unaccountable for its high crimes since established.

Palestinians are controlled and manipulated without having any say over their lives and well-being. They’re grievously harmed because the world community doesn’t give a hoot about their fundamental rights, the way it’s been for time immemorial.

They’re persecuted and brutalized for not being Jewish, what Zionism is all about, tyranny by another name, supported by likeminded regimes and others, knowing better but doing the wrong things anyway.

Columnist Gideon Levy explained that “(y)ou can attack the Palestinians in America (and the West)…call to expel them and deny their existence. Just don’t dare say a bad word about Israel, the holy of holies.”

Speaking truth to power cost Marc Lamont Hill his job as a CNN commentator. The most distrusted name in news sacked him for daring to criticize Israel.

Justifiably accusing the Jewish state of “normalizing settler colonization…state violence and “ethnic cleaning,” he added:

“We have an opportunity to not just offer solidarity in words but to commit to political action, grass-roots action, local action and international action that will give us what justice requires and that is a free Palestine from the (Jordan) river to the (Mediterranean) sea.”

Via Twitter, he said his “reference to ‘river to the sea’ was not a call to destroy anything or anyone. It was a call for justice, both in Israel and in the West Bank/Gaza.”

“The speech very clearly and specifically said those things. No amount of debate will change what I actually said or what I meant.”

Separately, in a December 1 op-ed, he apologized unnecessarily for his choice of words causing harm for some, saying:

He’s “been embroiled in controversy” over his remarks at a UN meeting on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with them.

The meaning of his rhetoric was twisted by Zionists, BDS opponents, and other one-sided Israeli supporters.

There’s nothing anti-Semitic about criticizing Israeli mistreatment of Palestinians or for allying with Washington’s imperial agenda.

Hill and I “reject anti-Semitism in any form or fashion…As an activist and scholar, (he’s) done (his) best to point out these realities and challenge them whenever possible.”

His commitment to social justice got him to accept an invitation to speak at the UN on “on the plight of Palestinians…offer(ing) a deeply critical (much needed) analysis of the State of Israel.”

He “challenged (its) criminal justice system, settlement (construction) and (horrific) human rights abuses” in the Territories and against its own Arab citizens.

“One simply cannot be progressive if they ignore the plight of Palestinians,” he stressed.

Nothing he said called for or incited violence against Jews. He was “stunned and saddened” about anyone misinterpreting or twisting his remarks this way.

Like myself, Hill calls for one state for all its people, a democratic one, polar opposite the way things are now.

Long ago, two states were possible, no longer. Israel stole and controls most West Bank land, its most valued areas, along with illegally declaring Jerusalem its exclusive capital – defying the world community, including the UN.

“Justice requires that everyone, not just a single side, is free and equal,” Hill stressed.

Anyone criticizing Israel, standing tall for Palestinian rights, risks vilification for their remarks and beliefs. I’m unapologetic for supporting right over wrong.

Hill said he’s “deeply sorry” for the controversy his justifiable remarks created – while “remain(ing) steadfastly committed to love and solidarity with oppressed people,” adding:

“I remain committed to critical dialogues throughout the city, nation, and world in order to advance the cause of justice. And I remain open to learning, growing, and struggling together toward freedom.”

For all of the above, he’s got nothing to apologize about to anyone. Doing the right thing matters most – its own reward.

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient.

About Stephen

Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967.